Endings
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Published on Tuesday, 10 August 2010 20:00
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Written by Will
| Title | Endings |
| Directed By | Christopher J. Hansen |
| Written By | Christopher J. Hansen |
| Starring | Matthew Brumlow, Ellen Dolan, Emma Hansen |
| Release Date | 2010 |
| DVD Distributer | Theoretical Entertainment |
| MPAA Rating | Not Rated |
| KillingBoxx Score | 3.0 |
| By It Now On |  |
Sometimes only strangers can help... Endings
Three tragically common stories collide and through happenstance weave together to become one larger tale offering redemption in the midst of defeat. This is the premise of Director Christopher J. Hansen's (
The Proper Care and Feeding of an American Prophet,
Clean Freak), latest feature entitled
Endings. What begins as a dark drama detailing the final day of three lives, morphs into a road movie that sidesteps frequently, presenting viewers a surprising tale not far removed from everyday life.
'Chris Ryan' (Matthew Brumlow), is a heroin addict who has decided he must take his own life, overdosing on the drug which is slowly consuming him, he feels he can spare his mother the pain of watching him die slowly. His only problem is that in order to achieve his goal he needs money, of which he has none. His desperation will cause him to embark upon a course of action that will not bring him where he intended to go.
'Emmy Ferguson' (Emma Hansen), is a ten year old suffering a rare form of leukemia. Aware it may be her last day on earth, she is determined to make a pilgrimage to see her mother one final time. Running away from her strangely over protective father to accomplish this goal, she will inadvertently touch the lives of a pair of strangers.
'Adonna Frost' (Ellen Dolan), is a stay at home mother just diagnosed with terminal breast cancer. Concerned with her family's well being when she passes, Adonna prepares for her imminent departure clandestinely making all the arrangements for her own death. Planning to take her own life she feels she will spare her family the ordeal and financial burden of watching her die. It is her selflessness that will place her in a position that may cause her to question her decision.
This film could have easily flatlined, descending into melodramatic cheese were it not for solid performances from the cast. Each performer came to the production with something of the mundane in their respective takes on their characters. This commonality in each served to elevate the story via simple and natural realism.
Despite Emmy's drug induced mild hallucinations, the film remains solidly grounded with Emma Hansen delivering a heartfelt and honest take on a character that required exactly that and nothing more. Never overacting or playing to the camera, she proves herself a natural talent. Working wonderfully with co-stars Brumlow and Dolan, the three together carry the story taking it to a place worth going. Also of note were Sherry Ward as 'Detective Zoe', Jane Willingham as 'Martha Ryan' and Joseph Frost as 'Charlie Ferguson'.
Credit is due to Director Hansen for not taking the easy way out regarding the fate of his three protagonists. When placed in conjunction with the performances from the cast the end result is a winning combination of pathos and discovery. There are many ways one may perceive a story and Hansen has expertly woven these elements together to create a day in the life. Standing alone none of these tales individually could have made a movie, put together however, they tell a story, one worth seeking out!
